This show was Phish's first public gig in New Jersey and featured many references to the state. Trey started the show by saying he was born and raised in New Jersey. Before Uncle Pen, Trey said that this was sort of a dream come true for him and Page, who grew up in New Jersey, adding it was the first time they'd ever played in the state. Trey said "we'll do a little song here that brings us back to our New Jersey roots here... it's an old Bill Monroe song." Mike added that it was "a song about Pendleton Vandiver, Bill Monroe's uncle. It's true. He's dead." Stash was played by request for "Big Phil" Muller, and was preceded by Fish playing the Charlie Chan signal. Fish said "he wrote it," Trey said "probably because I wrote it," and Mike added "I think it sucks. Essentially." Regarding Stash, Trey said "I collaborated on this song writing the music end of it and the lyrics were written by another native New Jerseyian, Tom Marshall, who isn't here tonight, unfortunately, because he's gotta be at work tomorrow programming computers." Fish added "for his dad" and Trey responded "My dad, he works for my dad. Keeping it all in the family here." Stash and La Grange contained Buried Alive teases. Prior to Landlady, Trey said they were going to play it in honor of their first gig in New Jersey. Mike introduced Destiny Unbound as a song he wrote about his Uncle Pendleton Vandiver. Prior to Buried Alive, Trey asked for a show of hands from the sparse crowd as to how many people in the room were actually from New Jersey and said "we're going to play a song that we wrote that we think captures the spirit of New Jersey," calling it "New Jersey And You, Perfect Together," which is the state's tourism slogan (a joke he later referenced in Golgi and Contact). Trey encouraged the crowd to "sing along when the chorus comes, just like it's a big commercial, because we'll be filming this for the next New Jersey commercial." During I Didn't Know, Trey introduced Fish as "Zero Man" and the song's lyrics were changed to Pardon Me "Zero Man." Before Contact, Trey introduced his dog Marley as "the 5th member of the band who doesn't usually get as much recognition... and we're going to play Marley's favorite song -- at this moment in time."

Show Reviews

This is a pretty good, loose, and chatty show. It sounds like a VERY small crowd, and Trey talks a lot about how it's their first time playing in New Jersey. Check out the decent early Stash with Buried Alive teases at the end, good La Grange, and excellent, mean-ass Tweezer. A fun show with an appearance by the Mar Mar! Three stars, IMO.

Divided Sky is the strong opener that it typically is from this era. I really enjoy the string of songs Uncle Pen - Destiny Unbound. Each has fantastic execution as well as some fun banter before Uncle pen and The Landlady. But that's not the only highlight of this first set. Weekapaug is straight fire and La Grange is textbook "Machine Gun Trey".

I feel like the 2nd set is slightly weaker than the first. Tweezer is pretty strong, I didn't know is fun. The Lizards is played top notch and great. GTBT continues the Machine Gun Trey action were La Grange left off.

Overall a slightly above average 1990 show. Nothing crazy or new, but standout playing throughout.

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